3.3 Ecology Study Guide

Question 1

Ecological succession

Answer 1

The process by which the mix of species and habitat in an area changes over time

Question 2

Primary succession

Answer 2

When a new patch of land is created or exposed for the first time.

Question 3

Secondary succession

Answer 3

Happens when a climax community or intermediate community is impacted by a disturbance.

Question 4

Pioneer species

Answer 4

species that are the first to colonize newly created environments or recently disturbed environments during the processes of primary succession and secondary succession.

Question 5

Seral stages

Answer 5

The series of relatively transitory plant communities that develop during ecological succession from bare ground to the climax stage.

Question 6

Climax community

Answer 6

An ecological community in which populations of plants or animals remain stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment.

Question 7

Species Richness

Answer 7

The simplest measure of species diversity and is either a count of the number of, or the list of, species inhabiting a given area or habitat

Question 8

Species Evenness

Answer 8

A description of the distribution of abundance across the species in a community

Question 9

Genetic Diversity

Answer 9

The biological variation that occurs within species.

Question 10

Ecological Diversity

Answer 10

The diverse array of ecosystems being seen in a huge geographical location.

Question 11

Keystone species

Answer 11

A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.

Question 12

Invasive Species

Answer 12

Animals or plants from another region of the world that don’t belong in their new environment.

Question 13

Primary vs. Secondary succession

Answer 13

Primary succession is the first time a community is grown there whereas secondary succession is when a primary community dies and then over time grows again which forms a secondary succession.

Question 14

How keystone species and invasive species affect biodiversity?

Answer 14

Keystone species:
-increases diversity in habitat
-exert important regulating effect on other species
Invasive species:
- out- compete native species
- reduce diversity

Question 15

Primary succession examples

Answer 15

-Melting, receding glaciers
-Volcanic eruption with lava

Question 16

Secondary succession examples

Answer 16

-logging a wooded area
-major flooding of a creek bed